Ability Grouping for Yound Children Absurd

Recently a school administrator asserted that in new revised Kindergarten standards whole classes lesson should be ended and ability grouping should be implemented.  That is right, one beast for another

How sad, misguided and just plane ignorant are the pronouncements of  this educator.  Lets see, the last time I reviewed NAEYC standards and guidelines the strategy of ability grouping for early childhood ucation programs was soundly rejected. 

Rather than ability grouping, child learning style, interest, experience and temperment are to be used as a basis for planning and implementing activities for young children.  Clearly, so called ability criteria assumes that young children can accurately be sorted into groups that learn better or worse than other students of similar age.  This assumption simply lacks research support.

On the issue of disgarding the use of whole class lessons.  Again, ignorance seems to prevail.  While exclusive use of whole class teacher directed lessons is generally unacceptable it is possible to conduct occasional whole class lessons provided the teacher builds and ephasizes self directed activities.  It is essential that any activity reflects the interest, experiene, learning style and temperment of participating children.

What is supported by scientific research is a set of best practices guidelines that presents the most accurate undestanding of how children learn and grow.  In this caseit is the education leader that needs inservice and not the classroom teachers.  Thank goodness the teachers in this situation spoke up and questioned the assertions of misinformed education leaders.

It is my opinion that the  success of early childhood education today requires competent teachers supported by equally competent adminstrators, curriculum specialist and parents.